Fratello’s Fantasy Pick: Kenneth Faried

NBA teams have one to three contests remaining before the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season comes to a close on Thursday. Many Fantasy hoops leagues have determined a winner by this point. But for Fantasy GM’s who are still sweating it out, this last week of ball could be make or break for bragging rights and prizes.

Rookie Kenneth Faried of the Denver Nuggets is the type of player you want to have on your fantasy roster at this late juncture. He has come on like gangbusters, regularly putting up double-doubles. Faried’s production has risen steadily in his first season, and coach George Karl has so much faith in the 6’8” Morehead State product that Denver swapped starting forward Nene to the Wizards at the trading deadline. In fact, the Nuggets have won ten consecutive games when Faried has double-digit rebounds.

Faried has averaged 11.3 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 1.4 bpg and 1 spg in 26 minutes per game so far in the month of April. He has five double-doubles in the last eight games. On April 9th Faried scored 27 points and grabbed 17 boards in just 24 minutes.

This cramped season of back-to-backs and 3 games in 3 nights has taken its toll on all the players. However, down the stretch, when veterans are beat up and coaches are resting older guys gearing up for the postseason, it’s good to have a young, athletic, level-10+ energy player like Faried on your roster to produce and contribute.